Spotted: Roxy Louw

Looking very tanned and beach-babe in her maxi-dress, Roxy was at the Men's Health Look 2008 to check out the hot blokes.

Up to No Good: Robin, Nicky, Emma, Lindi and her Best Boy Buddy

Hung out with this lot last night at the Men's Health Look 2008 Finals. Always a fun experience, even if your date (Emma) ditches you half way through... They have something up their sleeve, these scallywags.

I will post pics of the winners and over the weekend.

Spotted: Ryk Neethling

So I actually touched the poor man. On his bicep. He is a very big guy. When you have been taking photographs of half naked men all evening (more on that later) and a fully clothed one stands out in the crowd, you gotta know he is something a bit special. And very polite.

Laura - Roeland Street

When I saw Laura last week at Charleys Bakery I couldn't stop commenting on her outfit to my lunch companion. "Ooh, I like her dress." "Nice necklace." "Look how she tied her cardi under her bust. Cool." "Like the tights." So I thought I'd better take a photo and share it all with you.

Turning the Tables on the Society Pages

This is the very lovely Charl Reineke, the man behind the Cape Times Society Pages, which features photographs of the social butterflies around town as they attend the events of the season. Well, I shot him attending the Fedisa show on Saturday night.

News: iafrica.com Lifestyle Column #20

This week's column is focused on another must-have item for this summer - the feminine blouse. If you need to know which one will suit your body shape best, then have a gander at the piece in full by clicking here.

Photo courtesy of AFP

Trend Alert: Lace

All over the catwalks for Autumn/Winter, lace in its many guises is on its way to us sharpish. Those of us old enough to know that one can have a nasty 'Desperately Seeking Susan' mishap with the fabric, will take heart from these two ladies who are definitely demonstrating how to do the trend in a way that says 'fashion forward' rather than 'grandma's antimacassar'.

Spotted: Craig Port

Presenting the Richard Bloom Award at the Fedisa Graduate Show, designer Craig Port was beautifully turned out in his three piece suit, as ever.

Fedisa Graduate Show: My Favourites

For me, these two collections had fantastic construction detail, a narrative through the collection, and an attitude that I liked.

Highlights From Fedisa Graduate Show

I love graduate shows. There is always so much drama in the clothes. It's great. And, if I am totally honest, it is a bit like a sugar rush. Great fun while it lasts, but over quickly. Unless you get a few completely stand out moments that stay with you until a few days later.
I have got to say that the 'skulls' design, as I call it, was instantly and persistently, a mind altering experience. I loved it from the moment I saw it, mixed in amongst all the other models. It is designed by Richard Bloom Award winning designer, Tozama Dyantji, who was also selected to show at MTN Durban Fashion Week earlier this year. And she is only a second year student. I can't wait to see more from her.

Also, a few bits from the final year graduate collections. There were two collections that were my favourites, so I will post about those separately.

Trend Alert: White Tie

Not one but two young chaps spotted - sitting separately - this weekend in bright summery shirts coupled with white ties. Now, it occurs to me that there are gents a decade or so older than these, that have never worn a tie in their life, unless under duress. In contrast, the stylish youngsters of today have appropriated the tie to craft a look for themselves and have negated the 'corporate drone' persona that the tie used to possess. Jolly good show.

Fedisa Graduate Show: The Return of the 'Tache

So I took a few snaps on Saturday night while at the Fedisa graduate show. This is totally my favourite look for boys right now. It happens when you cross Alex Turner from the Arctic Monkeys with Captain Jack Sparrow. It's perfect and I wish I had got a better shot, but the little minxes were up to no good, as you can imagine.

A Discussion About Leggings

I know that there is much dissent in the world of fashion regarding the humble legging. And while there are many who decry them as an aberration, there are just as many, like Vera Wang, who believe them to be a wardrobe staple. Whatever your position, they still abound and serve quite a useful purpose, which is why this season they have started to evolve. We have seen the stirrup version worn (quite badly) on several red carpets in the past month, and I came across these cute purple ones the other day - with bows sewn on the backs. I thought that the clever young lady had done it herself, but she assured me that this was the way they had come to her. I think she looks great.

The Resurgence of Bling

I know, I know. Use of the word 'bling' is so, like, ovah. But I almost think that this young lady has been able to re-appropriate it (already) and make it kinda ironic. I like.

New Face

I read on Stiaan Louw's blog the other day that he is looking for new male models for his autumn winter collection. Go and read more about it by clicking here.

And then I saw this chap. How divine is his colouring? I think that he would be a great addition to Stiaan's lineup of cool skinny boys.

News: iafrica.com Lifestyle Column #19

Well lady gang, it's dresses a-go-go this season. To make sure that you are rockin the right one for your body shape, have a browse of my latest piece by clicking here.

And don't forget to up the SPF tomorrow as it is going to be a scorcher.

Photo courtesy of AFP

Cute Dress - From Both Angles

Some days you just want to twirl around in your lovely swing-y, drape-y, dress and feel like a Girl. This is one of those perfect dresses to do it in. I want it.

Playing with Proportions

Mixing it up, here are some more of the stylish ladies from Fedisa.

Pretty Summer Frocks

A couple of Fedisa ladies that I met last week were wearing gorgeous summer dresses.

And my number one pick is....

More Denim Delights

Visiting Friends

On Friday I paid another visit to Allen at Fedisa. They are currently gearing up for their graduate show on Saturday. They are the only registered tertiary fashion insitution that are not participating in the combined AFI graduate show, so it is going to be interesting to see what they come up with and I am excited to attend.

In the mean while, I witnessed the judging of one of the 2nd-year projects, based on denim around the theme of volume and suppression. I have no idea who did well, but I had some of my own favourites, based on the garment and how it was styled. I will feature a few here over the next few posts.

Chris Wagner

I nearly didn't recognise Chris when I bumped into him shopping up a storm at Stiaan Louw's collection at Baileys Trunk Show. It was the hair you see. No more sleek pudding bowl. But, as stylish as ever, this blog favourite always makes me smile - and he is so beautifully mannered.

Baileys Trunk Show - The Organisers

Incredibly hard work was involved in organising the gorgeous Baileys Trunk Show. And these are two of the main players - Dan and Pheliswe.

Of course, for those of you who don't know, Dan's alter ego is SASS...

Baileys Trunk Show - Maya Prass

Sadly with all the jetting around Maya has been doing lately - all that getting married, opening stores, etc that she has been busy with - she was unable to come up to Joburg for the Baileys Trunk Show. Be that as it may, she still was well represented and had items from her last couple of collections, as well as the gorgeous Missibaba accessories, on sale.

News: iafrica.com Lifestyle Column #18

Staying with the serious opinion pieces, this next article that I wrote for iafrica.com was inspired by the fabulous Baileys Trunk Show that I have been posting about all week. I just wish so many more of you had been there as I know you would have loved it as much as I did.

Read all about pop up stores in South Africa - and where they came from to start with - in my article by clicking here.

And yes, that is the wonderful Craig Jacobs of Fundudzi having a cheeky glass of Baileys at the trunk show.

Spotted: Colin Moss, Herchelle Gibbs, Tracy McGregor

There were a bunch of SA slebs at the Hugo Boss store opening this week at the V&A Waterfront. Having lived abroad for 10 years, I really don't know who they are usually. So it took me a while to catch on. I am told the the lovely chap at the top is a TV presenter called Colin Moss. He seems very nice, although his lady-friend outshone him with that gorgeous blouse. I have been a cricket fan all my life, so Hershelle Gibbs was easy. He did seem in fine form chatting up the ladies and looking dapper. And I will mention at this point that the event had no alcohol. Just saying. Finally, I figured out that the tiny little blonde lady was Tracy McGregor. Took me a while. And a little help from my media friends (ta, Helen).